VMC Chief Urges Comprehensive Ban on Single-Use Plastics

Quick Summary

• Vijayawada secured the fourth position in the “Swachh Super League” for cities with 10 lakh+ population, part of the Swachh Survekshan-2024 survey involving 4,589 cities.
• The recognition was celebrated at the “Swachh andhra – Swarna Andhra” programme in Vijayawada, where VMC commissioner Dhyanachandra H.M. credited people and sanitation workers for maintaining city cleanliness.
• VMC emphasized banning single-use plastics of less than 120 microns, encouraging alternatives like jute or cloth bags. Approximately 1,170 kg of seized plastic was displayed during the event.
• Strict fines have been introduced to ensure compliance with the plastic ban. Awareness campaigns and student rallies were conducted to promote environmental sustainability and plastic avoidance.
• Mayor Rayana Bhagyalakshmi expressed pride for securing fourth place behind Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai while highlighting a prior Garbage Free City award won by Vijayawada.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Vijayawada’s achievement in securing fourth place among large cities underlines its growing commitment to cleanliness and sustainable urban living standards. The launch of initiatives such as strict enforcement against single-use plastics reflects a proactive stance toward ecological responsibility-both vital steps given India’s mounting waste management challenges.

Encouraging civic participation through awareness programs ensures wider adoption of environmentally friendly practices while fostering community engagement. Though,sustained success will depend on consistent execution-through policy reinforcement like penalties-and resource allocation to sanitation infrastructure and waste disposal systems.

Vijayawada’s performance suggests that similar medium-scale urban centers can make impactful contributions to nationwide efforts toward environmental sustainability if partnered with civic dedication and administrative clarity.Read more: Source